Nay Pyi Taw October 17
A ceremony to mark the Hindu festival of Deepavali jointly organized by the Myanmar India Friendship Association (MIFA) and Hindu communities residing in Myanmar, took place at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Road in Dagon Township this evening, attended by Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also, present at the ceremony were his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo and his wife, commission members, Union ministers and their wives, ambassadors from foreign embassies to Myanmar, heads of embassies, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the commander of Yangon Command, officials from associations, people from Hindu communities, Hindu traditional cultural troupes and guests.
The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and his wife were welcomed by officials. Next, the Yangon Region Chief Minister, the Charge d’ Affaires a.i of the Indian Embassy to Myanmar and those from Hindu communities cut the rib-bon to inaugurate the Mingala archway of the Deepavali festival. They then blew Hindu traditional music and released hot-air balloons.
The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and his wife were welcomed with the Hindu traditional oil lamps and fragrance, and those from the ceremony prayed Pur Kumbham of Hindu traditions. The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar pressed the button to launch the ceremony and posed for documentary photos together with the attendees.
The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and his wife and party visited the Myanmar-India friendship and business booths, and booths of Hindu communities.
At the second session of the ceremony, the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and his wife, the Charge d’Affaires a.i of the Indian Embassy and his wife, and officials ignited the oil lamps to mark the Deepavali festival. The Charge d’Aff-aires a.i of the Indian Embassy and his wife decorated the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and his wife with the Mingala shawl and garlands. The Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Charge d’Affaires a.i of the Indian Embassy exchanged commemorative gifts and had documentary photos taken.
The Secretary of Myanmar-India Friend-ship Association and his wife also deco-rated the Charge d’Affaires a.i of the Indian Embassy and his wife with the Mingala shawl and garlands.
Speaking on the occasion, the Acting President and SSPC Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar ex-pressed the purpose of attending the Deepavali festival of Hindu traditions. He said that the Deepavali is a traditional festival of lights highly revered by Hindus. The term “Deepavali” combines the words “Deepa,” meaning light, and “Avali,” meaning row or line thus, Deepavali signifies “a row of lights”, symbolizing the lighting of oil lamps in worship and celebration. According to tradition, the origin of the Deepavali festival dates back to the time when the revered King Rama defeated King Ravana and re-turned victorious to Ayodhya, a royal city that had never lost a war. As his return took place on a dark night during the new moon of the Thadingyut period, the people lit rows of oil lamps to welcome and honour King Rama. Hence, the Deepavali festival began from this occasion.
The lighting of oil lamps symbolizes the dispelling of darkness and the arrival of light—representing the triumph of good over evil and the restoration of hope and brightness. With these beliefs, people light oil lamps as an act of worship and faith. For Hindus, Deepavali is regarded as an auspicious day. Beginning new ventures or closing old accounts and opening new ones on this day will bring success as expected. They also hold the belief that the celebration of this Deepavali festival of lights will usher in better conditions and greater prosperity for the country from this time onward.
Myanmar is a nation where various ethnic groups and diverse religious beliefs coexist. According to the Constitution, all citizens residing in the country are granted equal rights and the freedom to profess and practise their respective religions. Therefore, it is very important that people celebrate their religious festivals meaningfully in accordance with their faith and traditions.
He stated that it is necessary for people of different faiths to live together harmoniously, guided by the Four Sublime States (Brahma Viharas): loving-kind-ness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. Following the saying, “Unity leads to success,” he mentioned that sound fundamental principles have been established for multi-faith coexistence, including mutual respect among all religions and their followers for peaceful cohabitation, aiding and care to those suffering from religious or social conflicts, and addressing religion-related grievances in accordance with the law.
He stated that as everyone grew up together on this motherland, each per-son must respect the religious beliefs of others. He stressed that irrespective of ethnicity or religion, all who share this land, water, and air of Myanmar must cultivate the Union Spirit. Building on this spirit and mutual goodwill, he urged everyone to work together for the bene-fit of Myanmar.
He stated that for the benefit of the State and the ethnic populace, they will begin holding a free and fair multi-party democracy general election starting on December 28 to enable the State to return to the path of multi-party democracy desired by the people. Following the election, he added that they will proceed to hand over State duties to the resultant government in accordance with democratic norms, and he called on all organizations to work towards the election’s success, bearing in mind the nation’s interests.
He wished to express his gratitude to the Myanmar-India Friendship Association, the Indian Embassy in Myanmar, the Myanmar-India Chamber of Commerce, and all Hindu community organizations for successfully organizing this auspicious Festival of Lights (Deepavali) celebration for the Hindu community. He concluded his speech by offering a prayer that, starting with this Deepa-vali festival, all citizens may share love, respect, understanding, and forgiveness toward one another, leave behind the unpleasant past, and join hands to strive for peace and prosperity in the future of the nation and the world.
Next, the Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Indian Embassy in Myanmar delivered a commemorative speech, and the Chair-man of the Deepavali Festival Organizing Committee and the Myanmar-India Friendship Association each offered words of thanks.
Following this, the Senior General and his wife, along with the attendees, were entertained by various performances, including a medley of Hindu traditional dances, ethnic group traditional dances, and Myanmar traditional dances, presented by the Myanmar-India Traditional Cultural Dance Troupe, the Hindu Traditional Cultural Dance Troupe, and the cultural troupe from the National University of Arts and Culture (Yangon). After the performances, the Senior General and his wife, together with the Chargé d’Affaires a.i of the Indian Embassy in Myanmar and his wife, presented commemorative floral baskets to honor the cultural troupes.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and his wife, along with the members, cordially greeted the attending Hindu community members and Hindu traditional cultural troupes.
